Its code was found within an iPhone app update, and looks to be better-looking and easier to navigate than the iPhone version

Facebook
CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this month announced the release of new chat features, including Skype video calling,
and mentioned that many more launches would appear in the coming weeks. Now, a
Canadian engineering student has found one of the most anticipated launches
ahead of its actual release -- the Facebook iPad app.

Marvin Bernal, a Canadian engineering student and iOS enthusiast, discovered
the iPad app hidden within the code of Facebook's iPhone app after Facebook
released an update to its iPhone app. Version 3.4.4 had some fixes, but Bernal
noticed the iPad app code almost immediately and tweeted it for everyone to
see.

The Facebook iPad app has been a long-awaited feature,
since many mobile Apple users have complained about the look and functionality
of the iPhone version of the app. Many users have said that the layout in
general causes difficulty in app navigation.

But now, the iPad app has been found ahead of its time, and according to Tech Crunch, it was
well worth the wait.

The Facebook iPad app, which was written with HTML5, has an excellent
navigation system. It uses a left-side menu that can be accessed by simply
touching a button on the screen, displaying most Facebook options in one
instance. It also has a great-looking photo-viewer, and makes better use of
overlay menus than the iPhone version. When the iPad is turned horizontally,
the user's list of online friends appears, allowing them to chat while
navigating other parts of Facebook. In addition, Facebook Places allows the
user to view a larger map that shows all friends situated around you. In other
words, the iPad version looks and navigates much better than the iPhone
version.

It has been confirmed that this is the version that will be released to the
masses, and Facebook must be close to launching it if its code attached to the iPhone app. Many suspect
this version will be Universal Binary, which means it will encompass the iPhone
and iPad versions of the app.

It is possible to see and use the Facebook iPad app now, but you have to be
willing to do things you're "not technically supposed to do to your
iPad."

Facebook has not announced an exact date for the Facebook iPad app's release,
but it's safe to assume that it will come sooner than later -- especially with
this leak.

"We basically took a look at this situation and said, this is bullshit." -- Newegg Chief Legal Officer Lee Cheng's take on patent troll Soverain